The 1950s
Royal Rules
On the Phone
Plant Life
Joyous June
100
In 1950, this agency released the first “Ten Most Wanted” list.
What is the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)?
The previous year, the International News Service ran a story on “the worst of the worst” fugitives, and a tip from someone who saw a photo led to the conviction of a three-time murderer.
100
When royal women are on official engagements and wear a dress or skirt, they must wear lower body garments or tights of one of these two colors.
What is black or nude?
This is not a written rule, but it is expected.
100
Old-style analog phones use this feature to input the phone number.
What is a dial?
The dial was invented in 1891. These phones are called rotary phones.
100
This is the fastest growing woody plant.
What is bamboo?
There’s no need to fertilize bamboo; it self-fertilizes. Its leaves act as a mulch when they drop, and as they decompose, they return nutrients to the soil.
100
This tennis tournament begins in June.
What is Wimbledon?
It’s the oldest tennis tournament, part of the Grand Slam, and played on grass.
200
Home entertainment was transformed with the introduction of this electronic.
What is colour TV?
RCA was the first to invent and bring colour TV to market. Colour was first broadcast in 1953 but became more widely adopted in the 1960s.
200
This classic real estate board game is off limits.
What is Monopoly?
According to reports, members of the British royal family have been discouraged from playing Monopoly because it can become too competitive. In 2008, Prince Andrew reportedly joked that they were "not allowed" to play it because it "gets too vicious."
200
This is the emergency phone number.
What is 911?
It’s easy to remember, and it was introduced in 1968.
200
During the 1600s, these bulbs were worth more than gold.
What are tulips?
At the peak of Tulipmania, the price for one tulip bulb was around 5,200 guilders. In today’s dollars, the bulb sold for around $250,000.
200
This is June’s most common birthstone.
What is pearl?
The other two are Alexandrite and moonstone.
300
This Canadian civil rights pioneer refused to leave a whites-only section of a Nova Scotia movie theatre in 1946.
Who is Viola Desmond?
Viola Desmond's stand against racial segregation occurred nearly a decade before Rosa Parks' famous bus protest in the United States. In 2018, she became the first Canadian woman to appear alone on a regularly circulating Canadian bank note, the $10 bill.
300
Royals don’t give autographs for this reason.
What is the risk of forgery?
Catherine (Kate) Princess of Wales broke the rules by signing “Catherine” to an official letter.
300
This invention inspired the telephone.
What is the telegraph?
The telegraph revolutionized communication in the 1800s, allowing messages to be sent in minutes instead of days or weeks.
300
Avocado, zucchini, and pumpkin are classified as this type of plant because they have seeds.
What is fruit?
Fruits can contain a single seed, like an avocado, or many seeds, like a zucchini or pumpkin.
300
This is one of June’s two birth flowers.
What is rose or honeysuckle?
The primary birth flower is the rose, but people can choose the one they prefer.
400
Men’s fashion evolved to the Ivy League look, featuring these shirts and loafers.
What is a button-down?
Some of the fashions, such as Oxford button-down shirts and khakis, remain popular.
400
Married royals replace hats with these at 6 p.m.
What are tiaras?
Unmarried royals do not wear these crown jewels.
400
Before callers could complete calls themselves, they relied on these women to make the calls for them.
Who are switchboard operators?
Early telephone systems required human operators to manually connect calls using switchboards. As automatic switching took over, the number of switchboard operators declined.
400
This South American country is named after a tree.
What is Brazil?
The Brazil nut tree is one of the tallest trees in the rainforest.
400
In June 1215, this monumental charter was signed by King John of England.
What is Magna Carta?
It established the principle that the king was not above the law and helped shape the development of constitutional government and individual rights in England and later many other countries.
500
This folk artist had her first art exhibition in Europe at 89 years old.
Who is Grandma Moses?
Her art was first introduced to Europe in 1950, with stops in Vienna, Munich, Salzburg, Berne, the Hague, and Paris.
500
While on official engagements, the royals never eat this protein from the sea.
What is shellfish?
They avoid it due to the risk of food poisoning. They rarely eat garlic and avoid rich sauces.
500
Alexander Graham Bell suggested this greeting when answering the phone.
What is “ahoy”?
Thomas Edison suggested “hello,” and it’s the most common greeting in English-speaking countries.
500
Ferns and mosses are two common plants that reproduce through these.
What are spores?
Most plants reproduce via seeds. Spores travel through the air to procreate. Algae are marine plants that reproduce by releasing spores that are carried by water.
500
This is the name for June’s full moon.
What is strawberry moon?
It was named by Indigenous peoples in North America, as it marked the short strawberry harvesting season in early summer. Despite the name, the moon does not usually appear red or pink.